lesson learned.

The envelope system only works if I put money in the envelopes!

I've mentioned all the overtime I've been working lately and how much it's helped me jump-start my debt snowball.  Unfortunately, I didn't make time to do my budget.  I was reading The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness last night and was scolded by Dave Ramsey himself with something I've heard him say so many times.  He essentially says that we don't have time not to do a budget.  Erg... There he goes being right again.

So I ended up stupidly using my debit card, then backtracking and figuring out from my reciepts which envelopes that money would have come out of, then figuring out how much cash I needed to pull out of my account and place in each envelope.  Basically, I created a lot more work for myself by not doing my budget and getting cash.

It was a good slap on the wrist.  I don't think I'll be making that mistake again.  It was a pain...

i might have to review my goal...

They way things have been going, I might have to take a hard look at my $15,000 goal mid-year.  I think I can do better.  And quite honestly, I would rather have a goal that I have to stretch for than a goal that I know I can easily meet.  I'm pretty sure that $15k is a goal that I can easily meet.  Look at what I've done since I started!  Now the question is whether I should bump it to $20,000 or $25,000.  Hmmmm... How far can I take this in the span of one year...

Just a quick note: the girls and I are walking in the March for Babies again this year.  R and K were born seven weeks premature and spent their first weeks in the hospital being cared for by doctors and nurses with some of the biggest hearts I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.  The mission of March of Dimes is to prevent prematurity and infant mortality and to promote healthy pregnancy and healthy kids!  We're hoping a few of our readers will donate $5 or $10 to our walk (it's not per mile) to help the cause.  Thank you so much!

Three paychecks in April!  We're going to knock out another debt, so keep coming back!

another one? REALLY?!?

Who's a winner?  ME!  I'm a winner.  Check this out!

Direct Deposit Advance - $550
Store Card 1 - $323
Credit Card 1 - $400
Line of Credit - $510 !!!!!!
Credit Card 2 - $685
Student Loan 1 - $1,951
Store Card 2 - $2,800
Student Loan 2 - $3,148
Auto Loan - $4,140
Credit Card 3 - $4,577
Credit Card 4 - $5,150
Student Loan 3 - $5,614
Student Loan 4 - $6,048

BAM!  There goes another one!  I got a bonus at work that knocked out my Line of Credit and put a small dent in Credit Card 2.  I'm also looking ahead to next month when I'll get three paychecks, one of which will not have deductions for benefits.

I've been at this for about six weeks now and have paid off...

Drum roll, please!...

$2,984.52

It's amazing what can be accomplished when you really work at it!

Speaking of working at things, one of my other goals is to take at least enough classes this year to use up my tuition reimbursement from work.  I've been doing some research and completing some applications and have discovered that I may be able to take more classes than I had initially thought.  I already get $2,500 from work (it would be $5,000 if I went into a pharmacy program, but I don't have any desire to be a drug dealer).  According to my FAFSA results, I also qualify for a Pell Grant of up to $4,500.  Because I qualify for a Pell Grant, I also qualify for a scholarship from the University of Minnesota that will cover 100% of my remaining tuition and fees.  I need to read the fine print, of course, but this sounds to me like I can probably take as many classes as I have time for.

Creating more time in the day is another matter altogether.